Teacher’s Day Special: Teachers pool in money to fund kidney treatment of student

It was in December 2013 when a five-year-old Ansh Srivastava started showing symptoms like swollen hands and feet, which was initially taken by parents as problem caused by cold weather, but what the medical test reveled later left them in extreme shock and pain.

Ansh is expected to undergo kidney transplantation in December this year at PGI.

It was in December 2013 when a five-year-old Ansh Srivastava started showing symptoms like swollen hands and feet, which was initially taken by parents as problem caused by cold weather, but what the medical test reveled later left them in extreme shock and pain.

Ansh, then an LKG student at city’s Divine Public school, was diagnosed with kidney failure and subsequently advised kidney transplantation by PGI doctors at Lucknow but only when he would be 10-years of age or above. Till then the doctor’s put him on a regular dialysis and medication, with no intake of spicy food.

Five years on, Ansh now 10 is fine, attending his classes four days a week while undergoing dialysis twice a week at a private hospital in the city. Thanks to the school principal and teachers who pooled in money to fund the costly treatment which would have been otherwise impossible for his father Anoop Srivastava, an ATM guard, to bear. The parents of other students at school were also requested to make contributions for Ansh.

The effort paid off and the school principal Dr Meena Adhmi handed over a cheque of Rs 2,00,151 lakh to Ansh’s parents in a little function organised to support the ailing child. The money helped the parents to continue with Ansh’s dialysis, which cost Rs 3000 per sitting, for the five years.

Due to dialysis on every Sunday and Wednesday, he had to miss his classes twice a week but with the help of his teachers and classmates he is able to perform well in studies.

“He completes all his home work and when he fails to do so other kids help him,” said vice principal, Kusum Lata Verma.

Ansh is expected to undergo kidney transplantation in December this year at PGI.

His father Anoop Srivastava said, “The teachers and principal of Ansh’s school have helped us a lot. Kidney transplant is a costly affair. Five years ago the doctors had asked arrange 3 lakh rupees and now they are asking for 5 lakhs. I have also submitted an application at CM’s office at Gorakhnath temple, seeking financial help but there is no response.”